ASEAN Committee in The Hague, The Netherlands Business Sector Hold Successful ASEAN Business Forum

Chairperson of the ASEAN Committee in The Hague and Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda during his presentation on ASEAN Integration in Services during the Panel discussion at the ASEAN Business Forum with VNO-NCW  President Hans de Boer. (The Hague PE photo)

THE HAGUE 03 July 2019 —  Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda and the ASEAN Committee in The Hague, composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam organized the ASEAN Business Forum (ABF) on 24 June 2019 in The Hague.

The ASEAN Committee in the Hague co-hosted the Forum with the VNO-NCW, the largest Dutch entrepreneurs organization and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Minister of Foreign Affairs  Deputy Vice Guido Landheer delivered the opening remarks and moderated the interactive discussion with the Netherlands Business Councils in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam.

More than 130 Dutch entrepreneurs, ASEAN representatives of companies and  Chamber of Commerce attended the event, which was coordinated by Thailand as current ASEAN Chair.

Under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability: Business Opportunities in ASEAN”  on Dutch – ASEAN Cooperation, Ambassador Ledda spoke on “ASEAN Integration in Services” where he highlighted, the increasing significance of  intra-ASEAN trade and investment in services’ as an important pillar of the ASEAN Economic Community. ASEAN attracted US$135.6 billion of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in 2017, 66.9 percent of which went into the services sector.

The ABF held three Breakout Sessions, on “Connectivity”, “Innovation” and “Sustainability”.  Philippines Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Brussels Trade Counsellor Benedict Uy spoke at the Connectivity Session, where he presented opportunities in the IT-BPM Industry.  Senior economic officials of the four ASEAN member states spoke on ASEAN Free Trade Agreements, ASEAN Creative Economy and ASEAN Innovation.

The Philippine Embassy in The Hague and the PTIC hosted a Country Information Market Networking during the event.  Getting much of the traffic from the participants, the Philippine Team provided useful information on the economy, infrastructure development, and on trade, services and investment opportunities, all anchored on “building value together” as the hallmark of Philippines’ doing business with its partners. END

Philippines Trade and Investment Center in Brussels Trade Counsellor Benedict Uy during his presentation on the Philippines' Business  Process Outsourcing (BPO)  during the Breakout Session at the ASEAN Business Forum. (The Hague PE photo)

The Philippines Information booth on Doing Business in The Philippines, with Philippine tourism brochures, USBs and promotional materials on Trade promotion in the Philippines. (The Hague PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or  https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/.